Calculation of thickness and other dimensions of a concrete wall

For any building project, knowing how to calculate a concrete wall’s dimensions is essential. To make sure the wall can sustain its intended weight and withstand environmental factors, it entails determining the thickness and other crucial dimensions. Accurate computations help minimize building expenses and maximize the use of materials while also guaranteeing structural integrity.

A concrete wall’s thickness is decided by a number of factors, chief among them being the kind of load it will support and the structural requirements. The thickness of load-bearing walls must be adequate to support the imposed loads, including lateral and vertical forces. This computation is also influenced by variables like the wall’s height, the kind of soil or foundation it is built upon, and any additional loads like seismic or wind forces.

Along with the type of concrete mix to be used, any necessary reinforcement must also be taken into account when calculating the thickness. To strengthen and extend the life of the wall, reinforcement is frequently added in the form of steel bars or mesh. To guarantee that the wall satisfies local building codes and safety standards, these considerations must be made in the design.

Other dimensions, like length and height, are just as significant as thickness. Wall height has an impact on stability, particularly in tall buildings where extra bracing or reinforcement might be required. In order to avoid buckling or collapse, the wall’s length affects its resistance to horizontal forces like wind or earth pressure. Proper design is therefore necessary.

To sum up, understanding how to calculate concrete wall dimensions is crucial for any building project that aims to be safe and long-lasting. Builders can make sure structures meet engineering standards and endure over time by knowing the factors influencing thickness, height, and other dimensions.

We’ll dissect the crucial elements for figuring out thickness and other dimensions in our guide to calculating concrete wall dimensions. Gaining an understanding of these calculations will guarantee that your walls are both energy-efficient and structurally sound, from load-bearing requirements to insulation needs. Whether you’re remodeling or building a new home, this article offers helpful advice on how to get the ideal concrete wall dimensions for comfort and longevity.

The importance of correct sizing

Concrete wall dimensions are an essential operational parameter. Building a concrete structure that satisfies all operational standards and becomes dependable over time can be facilitated by understanding the necessary thickness and height. The standards used for computations are SNiP and GOST.

The regulatory document tables offer the best information to enable you to determine how much concrete will be required to erect a structure with the utmost accuracy. Furthermore, the building’s durability is 100% guaranteed.

After all, a design’s reliability is influenced by a variety of factors. from the environment to the current weather. Therefore, the components that will be included in the concrete solution and the precise amount of each ingredient required are predetermined.

In order to perform calculations, consider:

• purpose of the structure;
• terms of Use;
• load level.

Accurate computation is also important practically because it gives you financial control over the project. Building walls that are excessively thick is just not practical. The overuse of resources is anticipated.

Documents establishing standards

Technical documentation is useful in identifying the type of solution required in a given situation. It outlines every need for concrete walls based on the environmental factors of their intended placement.

Concrete mixture-related information can be found in special certificates SNiP and GOST.

The simplest available documentation containing regulatory references regarding the minimum thickness required for concrete walls is as follows:

Regulatory document	Content
GOST 7473-2010	Specifications for concrete mixtures
GOST 31108-2016	Construction cements
GOST 8267-93	Crushed stone and gravel for construction work
GOST 8736-2014	Sand for construction work
GOST 23732-2011	Water for creating a concrete mixture
GOST 10060-2012	Methods for determining frost resistance for concrete
GOST 10180-2012	Methods for determining strength for concrete
GOST 10181-2014	Test methods for concrete mixtures
GOST 18105-2010	Rules for monitoring and assessing the strength of concrete
GOST 24211-2008	Additives for concrete
GOST 27006-86	Rules for selecting concrete composition
GOST R 52085-2003	Technical conditions for formwork
SNiP 2.01.07-85	About loads and impacts
SNiP 2.02.01-83	Building foundations
SNiP 02/23/2003	Thermal protection of structures
SNiP 3.09.01-85	Reinforced concrete structures
SNiP 23-01-99	Construction climatology

Thickness Requirements

Strength parameters considered when creating technical documentation on the specifications for concrete walls:

• for compression;
• when bending;
• for sustainability.

The coefficient of thermal conductivity in relation to the concrete walls was considered in this instance. These are the fundamental prerequisites for computations. But more information needs to be considered as well.

Type of concrete partitions

The temperature of the surrounding air affects the thickness of a monolithic concrete partition. They usually concentrate on the winter months.

Additionally, if the local temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius during frosts, a wall thickness of 250 mm is adequate.

Additionally, the depth increases by 100 mm for every ten degrees. So, the concrete wall should already be at least 450 mm thick at an outside temperature of -40°C.

Regarding panel houses, the type of slab utilized determines how thick the walls are. If a single-layer panel was built, its thickness falls between 300 and 350 mm. The standard thickness of the multilayer board is 380 mm.

Availability of reinforcement

Generally speaking, a metal frame is used in the construction of all concrete structures. Reinforcement is the term used in construction for this. It is required to make the structure more dependable and strong. Internally reinforced walls are far more durable than walls built with just one mortar.

But a layer of concrete is needed to shield the metal rod from potential mechanical impacts and corrosion:

• 20 mm in dry and enclosed spaces;
• 25 mm at high humidity;
• 30 mm outdoors;
• 40 mm on or below the ground.

Location

The external walls’ thickness was previously mentioned. The room’s walls are separated into load-bearing and just partition walls to help disperse the weight from the floor slabs. In the first instance, prefabricated reinforced concrete structures with thicknesses ranging from 120 to 200 mm are employed.

The typical thickness of a basic partition is 80 mm. You can increase the size to 100 mm if you use a homemade monolithic fill.

Purpose

Not just residential buildings use concrete partitions. The material is most frequently employed in the building of technical premises.

Among them is a cellar used for storing vegetables. Groundwater is considered when outfitting a subterranean room.

If the soil is dry and they are low, 150 mm is sufficient for the wall thickness. But the size rises to 250 mm when the ground is wet. If not, the wall might not be able to support the increased load on its surface during freezing and collapse. However, vertical reinforcement must be used in both situations.

One can perform comparable computations when building a swimming pool.

However, the walls’ thickness shouldn’t be any less than 200 mm because the water inside the structure constantly increases the load on it. More than 250 mm of partitioning is not feasible.

Wells use special rings made of reinforced concrete. These structures have thicknesses ranging from 70 to 120 mm.

Floor structures

There are two methods for installing ceilings between floors when it becomes necessary. In the first instance, lintel-acting monolithic floors are poured. The slab needs to be at least 150 mm thick.

However, ready-made standard designs are an option. Slabs of hollow reinforced concrete that have reinforcement have a 90 mm thickness. For flooring between floors, this is more than sufficient. Because factory panels meet all GOST and SNiP standards, in contrast to a slab that was made at home.

Construction area

All over the world, the technique of pouring concrete walls is accepted for use. even in regions with heightened seismic risk. Furthermore, only the potential ambient temperature is taken into consideration when building. The previous section covered changes in wall thickness as frost levels rise.

Foundation type

It is important to remember that the thickness of the concrete strip foundation cannot be less than the depth of the load-bearing walls when pouring it. However, the base’s dimensions usually exceed these limitations. It will therefore be easy to pour the required foundation knowing the specifications for future walls.

However, the following formula can be used to calculate the dimensions more precisely:

Definition of symbols:

• M – weight of all building elements;
• P – useful weight;
• C – snow load;
• B – wind force.

You can find all of the precise data in SNiP 2.01.07-85.

Soil type

The type of soil on the site must be identified beforehand in order to facilitate successful construction. The truth is that not everyone is qualified to construct structures.

Soils with low heaving only are accepted. Sand soils must therefore be separated from fine-grained, dusty soils.

They are completely inappropriate for any kind of construction. Peaty soils are not preferred for the same reason.

GSOP indicator and heat transfer resistance

This indicator’s relevance is limited to residential and office spaces. Examining SNiP 2-3-79 will reveal detailed tables with all current parameters of the degree-day of the heating period as well as heat transfer resistance.

Calculation for a one-story house

The following formula must be used to determine the necessary wall thickness for a one-story home being constructed in the Moscow area:

1. δ is the thickness,
2. λ – thermal conductivity,
3. R – thermal resistance.

If we consider that the intended average indoor air temperature will be maintained at approximately +22°C, you will need to locate a table in SNiP that contains these conditions and extract the relevant data from it.

Thus, at 5% relative humidity, the thermal conductivity of concrete is 0.147 W/m√°C. Moreover, the rate of thermal resistance is 3.29 m 2 °C/W.

With a few basic calculations, we can determine that the Moscow region’s required wall thickness is 0.48 meters. Rounding is done in the direction of the larger value.

Calculations that are not done correctly will cause external partitions to freeze in the winter. increasing the heat loss from within as a result. Because of the increased need for heating, your monthly energy expenses will increase.

Additional calculations

You frequently need to know the precise height of the walls, and occasionally their length, in order to assess their strength. You can find all the required parameters in the tabular data of SNiP II-22-81. However, if you must compute the floor’s height, the following formula will yield the result:

• L – estimated length between two rigid horizontal supports.
• P – this is the coefficient of stiffness of the wall mating node with ceilings.
• W – perpendicular direction.

The SNiP tables contain accurate values under specific circumstances.

But you can think about a straightforward example to comprehend the computations. The wall section between the two supports is 2.8 meters long. The example’s rigid nodes mean that the first coefficient will be 0.8. The second has a value of one under normal circumstances.

We obtain – 3.5 by multiplying the coefficients and dividing the wall section’s length by the obtained result. It turns out that three and a half meters is the maximum height at which a wall can be constructed in this situation.

Ensuring the structural integrity and efficiency of a concrete wall requires accurate measurement of its thickness and dimensions. You can design walls that satisfy project requirements and safety standards by taking into account elements like environmental conditions, material properties, and load-bearing requirements.

The performance of the wall can be further improved by comprehending the roles of insulation and reinforcement. Insulation aids in temperature control and energy efficiency, while reinforcement adds strength. A successful design must strike a balance between these components.

Ultimately, in order to prevent expensive errors, it’s critical to seek professional advice and make precise calculations. You can make sure your concrete walls are long-lasting, efficient, and ideal for the purpose for which they were designed by doing this.

Video on the topic

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